Rock House Cave and Trail at Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas

Rock House Cave Trail is a very short trail located in Petit Jean State Park, just outside of Little Rock Arkansas. The trail is only 1/4 mile long, but it is packed with points of interest. The highlight of the trail is the ancient rock drawings in the cave. Although it is short, individuals who have balance or mobility issues will need help on this trail. It is rocky and slightly steep. The trail head tucked away off Red Bluff Road--a dirt road that loops through part of the park.

Trail Details

The trail length is 1/4 mile out to the cave. This is an out and back trail, making the total length 1/2 mile. The CCC Waterfall Trail connects to this trail. There is a parking area off of the road with plenty of spaces. I was there in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday and we did not see anyone else on the trail.

Rock House Cave Trail starts out as a dirt path on a slight descent. The trail quickly changes to a field of rock that has obviously been worn smooth and eroded by water. The rocky field reminds me of the Badlands, except there is vegetation surrounding the area. It was hot enough to be in the Badlands, temperatures were in the upper 90s and there is no shade.

As you pass through the rocky field you will come to an area call Turtle Rocks. These rocks are aptly named--they are rounded like a turtle's back and the erosion has created a pattern that makes them look like a turtle shell. Take a minute to read the information kiosk that explains how this area was formed. It is quite interesting.

After Turtle Rocks, the trail descends down the hill a little further and you see a large crevice area to the right. At this point, you can stay on the trail or follow the crevice directly into the cave. I recommend staying on the trail, especially for first-time visitors. The trail will bring you to two information kiosks that discuss the cave, the ancient rock art, and the frailty of the site.

From the crevice, Rock House Cave Trail bears to the right and the path changes from rock to dirt. A large red sign with white lettering explains that this area is a protected archeological site and care should be taken not to damage the remaining rock art.

Just pass the sign is the entrance to the cave. It is not a true cave, geologically speaking, but a large overhang of rock. The entrance is massive. To get a feel for the size of the opening, check out my slide show of Rock House Cave.

Once in the cave, you can look along the left side and center walls for the ancient rock drawings. Time and human contact have taken their toll on the rock art and it is difficult to locate. I would advise going on one of the guided hikes to the cave. The park staff will be able to show you exactly where the drawings are. Look for faint red, yellow or black lines. The art is primitive and stick-figure in appearance.

Points of interest

Turtle Rocks and the Rock House Cave are the focus of this trail. While in the cave, take a good look at the rocks. They are multicolored and banded with dark, brick colored lines. These lines are caused by iron oxide in the rocks.

How to find Rock House Cave Trail-Head

There are two ways to get to the trail-head. You can take a path from the CCC lodge, Mathers Lodge, which adds a bit to the length of the hike. At the time I wrote this article, the lodge is closed for renovations.

The easier way is from Red Bluff Drive. This is the way I accessed the trail. We were taking a short version of the driving tour and decided to follow the signs to the cave. This trail is not listed on the Mountaintop Driving Tour but it is located after the CCC Overlook. The parking area has restrooms. This is the only stop on Red Bluff Drive with facilities.

For those who have some time on their hands, I recommend getting the online map of the Mountaintop Driving Tour. The tour will take a couple of hours, but it is a great way to see the mountain. Bring plenty of water and make sure your car is in good working order. Red Bluff Drive is very remote and it is not paved. Cell phone service is unreliable.

If you find yourself in the Little Rock area, stop by Petit Jean State Park. There are 20 miles of trails to explore, lakes to fish in and lots to learn.

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